The Discipline of Grace Ch. 12

Chapter 12 “The Discipline of Watching”

We know that we are sinners. We want to live godly lives. But sin is so powerful. We must constantly be on guard against sin, watching for it to rear its ugly head, so that through the power of the Spirit and the Scriptures we can defeat that temptation.

We must know our enemy. Our enemy is us, though! Our sin nature is our greatest enemy and it is in us!! This means that we must know ourselves. We must study our weaknesses.

If you know you are weak in a particular sin in particular circumstances, then make a commitment never to allow yourself to be in that situation so that you can be tempted. Don’t let yourself be alone with the computer if you struggle with pornography. Don’t buy lots of sweets if you struggle with gluttony. Set up boundaries for yourself so that you can avoid temptation.

“Having identified our own areas of vulnerability, we should make definite commitments regarding them, pray about them, and memorize specific verses of Scripture that will strengthen us against those temptations.”

“We must be alert for those particular sins as they seek to assert themselves.”